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A review by seawarrior
The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I may have enjoyed this more if I was reading it around the time it was published, but hundreds year later it's not very thrilling and the most exciting portion of the novel was spoiled for me ages ago. None of the characters endeared themselves to me and the narrative structure is just odd, though not in a positive way. The book begins through the perspective of Dr. Jekyll's lawyer, with the climax and end of the story told through two letters, the final one written by Dr. Jekyll himself. The narration never switches back to the lawyer who was trying to uncover the true nature of who Hyde was, resulting in an ending that feels unsatisfying and abrupt.
What I did find interesting about the book was the focus on the duality of human nature, and additionally, how much the duality between Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde seems to be misunderstood in popular culture today. Jekyll openly admitted in his final letter that he is not all good, and alternatively, has many temptations he deemed too inappropriate or terrible to detail. His regular use of the potion that turned him into Hyde, a man he knows is pure evil, evidences that he is not altogether a moral man, which is only reinforced by his admittance that clubbing a man to death was a pleasurable experience to him, though he did the deed in Hyde's form. Instead of serving as a symbol of good versus evil, I felt this story more accurately portrayed the struggle of responsibility versus release. In using Hyde to relish in the temptations he once felt shame in, Jekyll is released from his guilt, glowing with liberty, and still allowed to maintain his prestigious position in society. Yet prolonged use to his transforming potion and Hyde's identity eventually undoes him, as the thinly restrained evil increasing within Dr. Jekyll empowers Hyde and soon leads to demise of their whole person.
I'm not certain I would recommend this book to others. It was somewhat tedious to read, though its thankfully not very long. I feel the most merit in reading the story in this day and age lies in how afterwards you will likely see more threads of it reflected within popular culture, and can then dissect them more thoughtfully.
What I did find interesting about the book was the focus on the duality of human nature, and additionally, how much the duality between Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde seems to be misunderstood in popular culture today. Jekyll openly admitted in his final letter that he is not all good, and alternatively, has many temptations he deemed too inappropriate or terrible to detail. His regular use of the potion that turned him into Hyde, a man he knows is pure evil, evidences that he is not altogether a moral man, which is only reinforced by his admittance that clubbing a man to death was a pleasurable experience to him, though he did the deed in Hyde's form. Instead of serving as a symbol of good versus evil, I felt this story more accurately portrayed the struggle of responsibility versus release. In using Hyde to relish in the temptations he once felt shame in, Jekyll is released from his guilt, glowing with liberty, and still allowed to maintain his prestigious position in society. Yet prolonged use to his transforming potion and Hyde's identity eventually undoes him, as the thinly restrained evil increasing within Dr. Jekyll empowers Hyde and soon leads to demise of their whole person.
I'm not certain I would recommend this book to others. It was somewhat tedious to read, though its thankfully not very long. I feel the most merit in reading the story in this day and age lies in how afterwards you will likely see more threads of it reflected within popular culture, and can then dissect them more thoughtfully.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Murder, and Medical content